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Asprey has a long and established relationship with British royalty dating back to the 1800s when Queen Victoria awarded the first Royal Warrant. Since then, Asprey has held a Royal Warrant for every British monarch and several other foreign heads of state.
A Distinguished History
‘The Queen’s Gift Shop’. It’s not an epithet to be bestowed lightly and Asprey has always accepted this as both a privilege and responsibility. As a result Asprey, has enjoyed this appellation has been richly justified since 1862, when Queen Victoria awarded the company a Royal Warrant for our dressing cases, travelling bags and writing cases.
In 1889 Asprey was granted a Royal Warrant from the Prince of Wales who was later to become King Edward VII. He was so pleased with a monogram Asprey designed for him, he tried to put it on all the pillar boxes in the country.
King Edward VII remained an important and enthusiastic customer up until his death. At the time of his funeral an Asprey member of staff remembered “Practically all the ruling heads of Europe were there, and many of them came to Asprey, you might see three or four in the shop at one time.”
[Pictured: ‘The Diamond Queen’, a light installation to mark Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, by acclaimed light artist, Chris Levine and jewelled diadem by Asprey London (2012).]
Royal Awards & Warrants
Royal Heirlooms
In the first year of his reign, King George V awarded Asprey with a royal warrant in 1911, as Trunk Makers. Asprey held this warrant until King George's death in 1936. In 1920 the Prince of Wales, HRH Prince Edward awarded Asprey with a royal warrant as Silversmiths. Asprey held this warrant until 1940, after Prince Edward abdicated the throne.
In 1925 HM Queen Mary commissioned a pearl necklace, which was later given to HRH Princess Margaret on her 18th birthday in 1948. In the fourth year of his reign, King George VI was the first of the British monarchs to give Asprey a royal warrant as Jewellers, as well as Silversmiths, in 1940.
Legendary Antiques
In 1862 Queen Victoria awarded the company a Royal Warrant for our dressing cases, travelling bags and writing cases. Asprey also held a Royal Warrant for Queen Elizabeth II as Jewellers, Goldsmiths and Silversmiths.
Shown here, a dressing case owned by Ernest Gambart, a famous art dealer who sold Turners from Asprey Albemarle gallery. (image courtesy of Daniel Lucian).
In 1953 it was the coronation of the current monarch, Elizabeth II to which Asprey paid homage with the Asprey Coronation Year Gold Collection. This featured a dessert, coffee and liqueur service in 18-carat gold and weighed almost 27 pounds. In April 1953 it went on show in the London store and subsequently toured the United States.
The Legacy Continues
Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother awarded Asprey with a Royal Warrant as Jewellers, Goldsmiths and Silversmiths. Asprey held the warrant until her death in 2002.
The Prince of Wales, HRH Prince Charles gave Asprey a Royal Warrant as Jewellers, Goldsmiths and Silversmiths. Asprey continues to hold this Royal Warrant today.
Retaining Royal Warrants here in the 21st Century involves a diligent approach to Environmental, Social And Governance Policy. Our emphasis on diligence when it comes to matters such as renewable natural resources, extraction of raw materials, supply chain management and minimization of waste, as well as staff and animal welfare, is unwavering.